Alliance Lady Bulldogs Basketball Drops Two

The Alliance Lady Bulldogs had a tough week. We started the week off with the freshman at a game. This left upperclassmen to practice on Monday. With illness and injury going around only 7 players made practice. On Tuesday, the freshman returned but only 6 upperclassmen were available. On Wednesday the majority of the team returned but many were not allowed to practice as we were still trying to heal them up. Thursday’s walk-through practice was the first time we had upperclassmen together but freshman were again on the road. Not the way the team wanted to enter a big weekend of play.

On Friday night the Gering Bulldogs came to Alliance. Gering had defeated Alliance earlier in the year 68-41 in the conference tournament and 68-55 in Gering. Alliance would show up defensively with a huge effort. Alliance jumped out to a 11-9 first quarter lead behind Ryley Rolls 5 points. Alliance would win the second quarter as well, extending their lead to 25-22 this time behind Blythe Boness and her 4 points in the frame. Gering would battle back winning the third quarter cutting the Alliance lead to 36-35 heading into the final stanza. Ryley Rolls contributed 5 points in the quarter to maintain the Alliance lead. Gering would come out hot in the fourth hitting 3 quick 3 pointers and a runner in the lane to open up the margin in their favor. Alliance would battle back cutting the Gering lead to one with just over a minute to play. Alliance would have two chances to tie or take the lead but couldn’t cash in on a fifteen-foot jumper or a runner in the lane late. Alliance was forced to foul and Kelly Snelling iced the game with 12 seconds left hitting two free throws to make the final score 49-45 in favor of Gering.

The Bulldogs followed up on Saturday with the long 3-hour trip to North Platte. The tough week caught up to the Bulldogs as their legs were just not there. The heart and the effort were there but the intensity and fire were absent. North Platte rolled out to a quick 19-4 first quarter lead and never looked back. North Platte would win each quarter and take the game with a final score of 66-32. The Bulldogs would lose Emersen Cyza in the third quarter to injury. Ryley Rolls would again lead the Bulldogs offensively with 9 points and 7 rebounds. Megan Oligmueller would contribute 8 points. Blythe Boness, again hampered by fouls would lead the rebounding department with 9.

The Bulldogs will travel to Chadron on Tuesday and Scottsbluff on Friday as conference action continues.